Lawrence Orders House of Mercy Church to Shut Tent Camp
The city fines the church $300 per day for each of four violations tied to its encampment.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in City Hall
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The City of Lawrence issued a cease and desist order to House of Mercy Church to shut down its tent community, which houses 60 people. The church faces a $300 daily fine for each of four violations.
Why it matters
The order centers on unauthorized encampments and sanitation facilities built without the required permits and inspections. It arrives as the city reports spending more than $1.9 million on homeless-related incidents this fiscal year.
The City of Lawrence has issued a cease and desist order carrying $300 daily fines for each of four violations. The church has not yet indicated whether it will comply or contest the order, and the outcome of the fines remains unknown.
The players
House of Mercy Church
A Lawrence church that operates a tent community to encourage residents toward recovery from substance use disorder or employment.
City of Lawrence
The municipal government that issued the cease and desist order and fines for unpermitted encampment structures and sanitation facilities.
Brian De Peña
The mayor of Lawrence, who was indicted in August on four counts of wire fraud and seven counts of money laundering over an alleged fraudulent pandemic small business loan.
The details
The encampment consists of 26 tents on wooden pallets, porta potties, and two shipping containers being converted into housing. On Wednesday, the church posted videos of the site being dismantled and items thrown into a dumpster, and the church is seeking PayPal donations to help pay the fines.
Timeline
August: Mayor Brian De Peña was indicted on four counts of wire fraud and seven counts of money laundering.
Wednesday: The church posted videos showing the encampment being dismantled.
Thursday: The church received the cease and desist order from the City of Lawrence.
Friday: The church made a public statement seeking to work with the city.
Political Context
The order enforces Lawrence's permit and inspection requirements against a church-run encampment that lacked them. The church argues the site serves a recovery purpose, setting up a dispute over whether faith-based housing should be treated differently under local rules.
Residents and church members face daily fines if the violations continue, and the encampment's 60 occupants must relocate if the order is enforced. Nearby residents may see changes to how the city enforces permits on temporary housing and sanitation facilities.
The takeaway
Local rules on permits and inspections apply to faith-based recovery programs just as they do to other encampments. The outcome of the church's response will show how the city balances enforcement with recovery-focused housing.
Further reading
For more on how local government handles these disputes, see City Hall coverage of Lawrence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boston.
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Should cities allow unpermitted homeless tent encampments on private church property?
